Abstract:

A medical device has a compression plate for compression of a subject
and/or a subject table for placement of a subject, and at least one
radiation source that emits electromagnetic radiation. The compression
plate and/or the subject table can be heated by the electromagnetic
radiation radiated by the at least one radiation source.

Claims:

1. A medical device comprising:subject-contacting components, including a
compression plate and a subject table configured to receive and compress
a subject therebetween;at least one radiation source that emits
electromagnetic radiation; andat least one of said subject-contacting
components being comprised, at least in part, of material that is
elevated in temperature by interaction with said electromagnetic
radiation.

2. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiation source
emits said electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength spectrum
comprising a first sub-range in the infrared spectral range and a second
sub-range in the humanly visible spectral range.

3. A medical device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said electromagnetic
radiation source embodies humanly perceptible information in said
electromagnetic radiation in said second sub-range, projected onto said
at least one of said subject-contacting components.

4. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said subject-contacting components comprises a temperature sensor that
detects the temperature of said at least one of said subject-contacting
components.

5. A medical device as claimed in claim 4 comprising a control device
connected to said temperature sensor that controls a temperature increase
of said at least one of said subject-contacting components dependent on
the temperature detected by said temperature sensor.

6. A medical device as claimed in claim 4 comprising a regulator device
connected to said temperature sensor that regulates a temperature
increase of said at least one of said subject-contacting components
dependent on the temperature detected by said temperature sensor.

7. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said subject-contacting components comprises a structure that slows decay
of said elevation in temperature that occurs after said interaction with
said electromagnetic radiation ceases.

8. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiation source is
adjustable to allow adjustment of a direction in which said
electromagnetic radiation is emitted from said radiation source.

9. A medical device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said radiation source
allows adjustment of said direction perpendicular to a surface normal of
said at least one of said subject-contacting components.

10. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said subject-contacting components comprises a plate having a coating
covering at least a portion of said plate in a region struck by said
electromagnetic radiation, said coating promoting conversion of said
electromagnetic radiation into heat to produce said elevation in
temperature of said at least one of said subject-contacting components.

11. A medical device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said electromagnetic
radiation exhibits a wavelength spectrum, and wherein said coating
exhibits optical properties adapted to said wavelength spectrum of said
electromagnetic radiation.

12. A medical device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said coating is
substantially transparent to said x-rays.

13. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said subject-contacting components comprises a plate comprised of a
material that promotes conversion of said electromagnetic radiation into
heat to produce said increase in temperature of said at least one said
subject-contacting components.

14. A medical device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said electromagnetic
radiation has a wavelength spectrum, and wherein said material comprising
said plate exhibits optical properties adapted to said wavelength
spectrum.

15. A medical device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said material
comprising said plate is substantially transparent to x-rays.

16. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one of
said subject-contacting components is configured to transfer said
elevation in temperature to the subject in contact with said at least one
of said subject-contacting components.

17. A medical device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said subject exhibits
optical properties, and wherein said radiation source emits said
electromagnetic radiation with a radiation characteristic, selected from
the group consisting of intensity and wavelength spectrum that is adapted
to said optical properties of the subject.

18. A medical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compression plate
and said support table are configured to receive and compress a female
breast therebetween.

19. A medical device as claimed in claim 18 comprising an x-ray imaging
system that produces an x-ray image of the female breast compressed
between said compression plate and said support plate.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]The invention concerns a medical device with a compression plate for
compression of a subject and/or a subject table for placement of a
subject for a medical examination.

[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004]In the medical field a number of the widely-varied devices exist
that exhibit a compression plate and/or a subject table. In nearly every
medical examination a subject to be examined is placed on a subject table
in order to implement the examination. The subject tables used for this
can be of different design; for example, they can serve for placement of
an entire patient (as are used, for instance, in magnetic resonance
tomography and computed tomography) or can also serve only for placement
of a specific body part of the patient (for instance in orthopedic x-ray
examinations or in mammography examinations).

[0005]Among other things, medical devices with compression plates are used
for mammography or for implementation of a biopsy. In particular, the
course of a biopsy can be monitored by many different analytical methods.

[0006]The compression of a (normally female) breast that is required for a
mammogram today is frequently implemented with rigid, inflexible
compression plates. For example, the compression plates used for this
typically are formed of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

[0007]In mammography the compression of the breast serves on the one hand
to reduce the thickness of the breast tissue to be x-rayed, so that
scatter rays are reduced. Additionally, in the examination the breast is
extended from the thorax of the patient by the compression of the breast,
so a surface-proximal examination of the breast is enabled.

[0008]The compression of the breast is achieved by the compression device
together with a rigid compression plate being displaced relative to a
subject table on which the subject to be examined or to be compressed is
supported. The compression of the breast or of the subject by means of a
rigid compression plate (for example in a mammogram) normally does not
allow a flexible consideration of an anatomy of the female breast varying
from patient to patient. The compression of the breast with a rigid
compression plate therefore normally leads to pain being experienced by
the patient or damage to the subject to be compressed (in the event of
non-living subjects).

[0009]In the field of mammography, a large number of differently-shaped
rigid compression plates that are adapted to different sizes and shapes
of female breasts are made available so as to allow the technician to
select and provide a compression plate best adapted for a specific
patient. The compression thus can proceed more comfortably for the
patient.

[0010]To increase the utilization of the mammography device, however,
frequently no changing of the compression plates ensues, in order to save
time between mammography examinations and thereby increasing the patient
throughput.

[0011]For examination of the breast of the patient by means of a
mammography device, the breast is initially arranged on a subject table
and is subsequently compressed by the compression plate.

[0012]Normally, both the compression plate and the subject table exhibit a
surface temperature that coincides with the ambient temperature of the
environment, normally room temperature of, for example, 20 degrees
Celsius. Since the breast essentially exhibits the body temperature of
the patient, i.e. approximately 37 degrees Celsius, the contact of the
breast with the subject table as well as with the compression plate is
perceived as uncomfortably cold by the patient.

[0013]The pain in the breast that is perceived by the patient during the
compression as well as the feeling of cold occurring for the patient upon
contact of the subject table or the compression plate with the breast
leads to the patient having uncomfortable associations with having a
mammogram.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014]An object of the present invention is to provide a medical device
with which an examination and/or a treatment of a subject (in particular
a patient) can be improved.

[0015]In a medical device of the aforementioned type, this object is
achieved by the use of at least one radiation source radiating
electromagnetic radiation, wherein the compression plate and/or the
subject table is heated by the radiation radiated by the at least one
radiation source. Heating of the compression plate and/or of the subject
table can be achieved by the use of electromagnetic radiation,
independent of the design and shape of the compression plate and/or the
subject table since the feeding of the energy for heating of the
compression plate and/or the subject table ensues without contact.

[0016]In principle an arbitrary wavelength spectrum of the electromagnetic
radiation can be used to heat the compression plate and/or the subject
table. In particular, x-rays can be used for heating of the compression
plate and/or the subject table.

[0017]Furthermore, no installation effort at the compression plate and/or
at the subject table is required in order to achieve a heating of the
compression plate and/or of the subject table with the inventive medical
device. For example, no heating plates must also be provided that may
hinder examination of a subject to be examined by, for example,
scattering magnetic fields or x-rays.

[0018]At least two radiation sources are advantageously provided in a
medical device fashioned as a mammography device, with one radiation
source irradiating the compression plate with electromagnetic radiation
and the respective other radiation source irradiating the subject table
with electromagnetic radiation, so that the irradiated surface of the
compression plate and that of the subject table are both essentially
heated by the electromagnetic radiation.

[0019]The temperature of the compression plate and/or of the subject table
is adapted to the temperature of a subject to be examined or to a
different, predeterminable temperature by the irradiation of the
compression plate and/or of the subject table.

[0020]If the medical device has both a compression plate and a subject
table, the at least one radiation source for heating the compression
plate and the subject table is advantageously arranged essentially
between the subject table and the compression plate. With such an
arrangement, the top side of the subject table as well as the underside
of the compression plate (thus those partial regions of the compression
plate and the subject table that come into physical contact with the
subject to be examined) are heated in a simple manner by the
electromagnetic radiation emanating from the at least one radiation
source.

[0021]The examination of a patient by means of the inventive medical
device thus proceeds more comfortably and the examination or treatment of
a patient is thereby improved.

[0022]In an embodiment of the invention the electromagnetic radiation
exhibits a wavelength spectrum, with a first sub-range of the wavelength
spectrum being in the infrared spectral range and a second part of the
wavelength spectrum being in the spectral range visible to the human eye.
By providing at least these two spectral ranges, an efficient heating of
a surface region of the compression plate and/or a surface region of the
subject table can ensue with the infrared spectral range of the
electromagnetic radiation; and information visible to the patient or the
physician can be shown in the same surface region by means of the visible
spectral range In another embodiment of the invention, information can be
projected onto the compression plate and/or the subject table by means of
the visible spectral range of the electromagnetic radiation. For example,
during the positioning of the subject to be examined on the subject
table, the spatial dimensions of the detector surface exhibited by an
x-ray detector (which is arranged below the subject table) can be
projected onto the subject table.

[0023]It is likewise possible, for example, to project onto the subject
table the size of a compression region of a compression plate that will
compress the subject to be examined, in order to allow the breast to be
positioned in a suitable manner. The compression region is the region of
the compression plate coming into contact with the breast during the
compression and provided for the contact with the breast.

[0024]By presentation of such information in the form of a projection on
the compression plate and/or the subject table, the physician can adapt
the position of the subject to be examined to the position of the x-ray
detector, and possibly to the position of a compression plate, in a
simple manner.

[0025]The projection can, for example, show examination parameters for the
operation of the medical device or patient data that are projected onto
the subject table and/or the compression plate. In principle, any
optically-presentable information can be projected onto the subject table
and/or the compression plate.

[0026]In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one sensor for
detection of the temperature of the compression plate and/or at least one
sensor for detection of the temperature of the subject table is/are
provided. The heating or increase of the temperature of the compression
plate and/or of the subject table can be tracked by means of the at least
one sensor. If applicable, at least one further sensor for detection of
intensity of the radiated electromagnetic radiation can be provided. The
sensors for detection of the temperature can be, for example, infrared
sensors. Pyroelectrics, thermo-elements, oscillating crystals,
semiconductor temperature sensors and other temperature sensors for
detection of the temperature of the compression plate and/or of the
subject table can likewise be used. Normally such sensors for detection
are used, which do not significantly interfere with the operation of the
medical device and the examination of a subject to be examined.

[0027]In another embodiment variant of the invention, control and/or
regulation of the temperature increase of the subject table and/or of a
temperature increase of the compression plate is provided. Control of the
temperature increase allows a predeterminable temperature (stored, for
example, in a control device) of the compression plate and/or of the
subject table to be set. For control of the temperature increase, the
temperature of the compression plate and/or of the subject table that is
detected by the at least one sensor serves as a reference for monitoring
the temperature increase. If a regulator device is used, the temperature
of the compression plate and/or of the subject table that is detected by
the at least one sensor is supplied to the regulator device which
thereupon regulates the power (emitted, for example, in the form of
electromagnetic radiation) of the radiation source in order to reach or
to maintain a predetermined temperature of the compression plate and/or
of the subject table. The control and/or regulation of the temperature of
the compression plate and/or of the subject table can ensue manually or
automatically.

[0028]In a further embodiment of the invention, the compression plate
and/or the subject table includes a device to slow decay of the
temperature of the compression plate that occurs after the irradiation
and/or decay of the temperature of the subject table that occurs after
the irradiation. If the irradiation of the compression plate and/or of
the subject table ends with the shut off of the electromagnetic
radiation, cooling of the heated compression plate and/or of the heated
subject table normally occurs.

[0029]It is frequently desired that the temperature of the compression
plate and/or of the subject table that be increased relative to an
environmental temperature and be retained over a longer time span so
that, for example, reheating requires a smaller warming time of the
compression plate and/or the subject table. For example, heat
accumulators can be provided for this purpose. These can be realized both
by heat-storing structures (for example honeycomb structures) or by the
use of appropriate materials (normally materials with high heat
capacity).

[0030]In a further embodiment of the invention, the radiation device from
which electromagnetic radiation can be radiated onto the compression
plate and/or the subject table is adjustable. A single radiation source
for heating the compression plate and/or the subject table can be
provided by changing the radiation direction of the electromagnetic
radiation on the compression plate and/or the subject table. For example,
the radiation source can be moved, controlled by means of a motor, such
that the electromagnetic radiation alternatingly strikes the compression
plate and the subject table. The warmable surface region of the
compression plate and/or of the subject table can additionally be varied
by changing the radiation direction.

[0031]In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radiation direction
of the electromagnetic radiation can be adjusted perpendicular to a
surface normal of the subject table and/or perpendicular to a surface
normal of the compression plate. This is advantageous, for example, when
the subject table is fashioned as a cover of the x-ray detector. Heating
of such a subject table over a longer time span would also lead to an
unwanted increase of the temperature of the x-ray detector for which
cooling is normally provided anyway.

[0032]In order to avoid a further heating of the subject table and thus of
the x-ray detector, the direction of the electromagnetic radiation is
adjusted such that the surface normal of the subject table is
perpendicular to the radiation direction (propagation direction) of the
electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation then propagates
parallel to the surface of the subject table, so essentially no further
heat is produced by the electromagnetic radiation in the subject table.

[0033]In an embodiment of the invention, the compression plate and/or the
subject table has in at least one sub-region, a coating that promotes
conversion of the electromagnetic radiation striking the compression
plate and/or the subject table into a temperature increase of the
compression plate and/or of the subject table. The coating is selected
such that electromagnetic radiation can be efficiently transduced into a
temperature increase. In order to achieve an efficient transduction of
electromagnetic energy into heat, the coating can be a layer system of
various layers which exhibit different thermal and/or optical properties.

[0034]In order to be able to effect an efficient transduction of
electromagnetic radiation into a temperature increase, a material is used
that has a high absorption coefficient and a low specific heat capacity
for the utilized wavelength spectral range of the electromagnetic
radiation emanating from the radiation source; in the following this is
called an absorption layer. A high absorption coefficient of the coating
leads to an increased absorption of energy introduced by the
electromagnetic radiation, and a low specific heat capacity leads to
comparably little energy being required in order to achieve an increase
of the temperature of this absorption layer.

[0035]In order to prevent a fast temporal decay of the temperature after
the end of irradiation of the coating with electromagnetic radiation
(which decay would be a direct consequence of the low specific heat
capacity of the absorption layer), a second layer with a distinctly
higher specific heat capacity can be provided directly below the
absorption layer; the second layer is called a storage layer in the
following.

[0036]A fast heating of the absorption layer occurs during the irradiation
of the coating with electromagnetic radiation and an exchange of heat
occurs by heat conduction between the absorption layer and the storage
layer. Due to the higher specific heat capacity, the storage layer is
heated significantly more slowly than the absorption layer. However, due
to its significantly higher specific heat capacity, the heated storage
layer can act as a heat accumulator. When the irradiation of the coating
with electromagnetic radiation ends, the absorption layer cools much
quicker than the storage layer due to the low specific heat capacity. The
heat flow between absorption layer and the storage layer therefore
reverses and the absorption layer is heated by the storage layer. Slowing
of the decay of the temperature of the absorption layer is thus achieved.

[0037]The conversion of electromagnetic radiation into heat can ensue
particularly efficiently when the optical properties of the coating of
the compression plate and/or of the subject table and the wavelength
spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation radiated by the at least one
radiation source are adapted to one another. For this purpose, the
coating can be adapted (as is known, for example, from the field of solar
cells) in order to improve its efficiency--known as bandgap engineering.
Alternatively, the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the radiation
source can be tuned through its wavelength spectrum in order to be able
to be utilized for various coatings with different optical properties.

[0038]The thickness of the layers of the coating--for instance absorption
layer and storage layer--can be adapted to the expected average
irradiation duration of the compression plate and/or the subject table
with electromagnetic radiation and/or to the desired decay behavior of
the temperature of the compression plate and/or of the subject table.

[0039]If the medical device is fashioned as an x-ray device, it is
particularly advantageous that the coating on the compression plate
and/or the subject table is essentially transparent for x-rays. The
examination implemented with x-rays is thus at most negligibly influenced
by the coating applied on the compression plate and/or the subject table,
and the examination success is not endangered.

[0040]In the embodiment of the invention, the compression plate and/or the
subject table is at least partially fashioned of a material in which the
electromagnetic radiation striking the compression plate and/or the
subject table is easily converted into a temperature increase of the
compression plate and/or of the subject table. This represents an
alternative possibility with regard to the use of the aforementioned
coating of the compression plate and/or of the subject table.

[0041]Such materials forming the compression plate and/or the subject
table can also be used in combination with the aforementioned coating.
The explanations described above for the coating apply in an analogously
to a material or multiple materials at least partially form the subject
table, and by means of which the electromagnetic radiation striking the
compression plate and/or the subject table can be efficiently converted
into a temperature increase of the compression plate and/or of the
subject table.

[0042]The material at least partially forming the compression plate and/or
the subject table thereby advantageously has a defined surface region of
the compression plate and/or of the subject table, so that the
electromagnetic radiation radiated from the radiation source can be
radiated onto the material in a geometrically simple manner.

[0043]The advantage of a material at least partially forming the
compression plate and/or the subject table compared to the use of coating
is that the material at least partially forming the compression plate
and/or the subject table is normally less prone to wear than a coating of
the compression plate and/or the subject table. The advantage of the use
of a coating on the compression plate and/or the subject table is that
this can be renewed relatively simply, as needed. Given the use of a
material forming the compression plate and/or the subject table, the
entire compression plate and/or the entire subject table normally has to
be replaced upon damage or wear of the material.

[0044]The material at least partially forming the compression plate and/or
the subject table is advantageously also substantially transparent for
x-rays, so that it does not have a negative influence on the examination
result of the subject to be examined in x-ray examinations.

[0045]In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a radiation source
emitting an electromagnetic radiation is provided, and a subject can be
heated by means of the radiation radiating from the radiation source. In
particular given a compression to be implemented for an examination with
the medical device, a heating of the subject (for example a female
breast) leads to a relaxation of the tissue. The breast tissue thus
presents a lesser resistance to the compression plate and the subject
table with the compression of the breast, and the examination is
perceived as more comfortable. Moreover, a relaxed subject to be
examined, for example relaxed breast tissue in the case of a mammogram,
can be positioned more easily.

[0046]In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic
radiation emanating from the radiation source to heat a subject exhibits
an intensity and/or a wavelength spectrum that is adapted to the optical
properties of the subject to be examined. The subject to be heated thus
can be heated in a suitable manner. The intensity of the electromagnetic
radiation striking the subject must not be selected so high as to lead to
burning of the subject nor too low, so that no heating of the subject
occurs.

[0047]An adaptation of the wavelength spectrum of the electromagnetic
radiation to the subject to be heated is likewise normally required. For
a human patient, a wavelength that is neither too short (for example in
the ultraviolet spectral range or even in the x-ray spectral range) nor
too long a wavelength (for example in the microwave range) must be
selected.

[0048]For irradiation of the subject, the infrared spectral range of
electromagnetic waves and an intensity that enables a gentle heating of
the subject are advantageously used. For example, a conventional red
light lamp can be used for this purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049]FIG. 1 is a side view of a mammography device with a first radiation
source for heating of a compression plate and a second radiation source
for heating of a subject table in accordance with the invention.

[0050]FIG. 2 is a side view of a C-arm x-ray device with a radiation
source for heating of a subject table and a subject in accordance with
the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051]FIG. 1 shows a mammography device 1 with an x-ray radiator 13 and an
x-ray detector 14. An x-ray region X which is permeated with x-rays upon
irradiation by x-rays from the x-ray radiator 13 extends between the
x-ray radiator 13 and the x-ray detector 14. Furthermore, the mammography
device 1 has a compression device 3' including a compression plate 3.
Together with compression plate 3, the compression device 3' is arranged
such that it can be displaced relative to a stand unit (not provided with
a reference character) of the mammography device 1 in order to be able to
compress a breast O placed on a subject table 4 for a mammography
examination.

[0052]The x-ray detector 14 of the mammography device 1 is integrated into
the subject table 4, or the subject table 4 and the x-ray detector 14
form a unitary structural unit of the mammography device 1. In the
exemplary embodiment, one end of the compression plate 3 (in particular
the end facing away from the patient) exhibits a first radiation source
5. An electromagnetic radiation E1 which exhibits a wavelength range that
reaches from an infrared spectral range up to the spectral range visible
to the human eye can be radiated in a directed manner by means of the
radiation source 5. In FIG. 1 the radiation direction is selected such
that essentially the subject table 4 is irradiated with the
electromagnetic radiation E1. The first radiation source 5 is, for
example, fashioned as a red light lamp.

[0053]One end of the subject table 4 (advantageously not the end of the
subject table 4 facing toward the patient) has a second radiation source
6 from which electromagnetic radiation E2 can likewise be radiated in a
directed manner. The second radiation source 6 radiates the
electromagnetic radiation E2 essentially in the direction of the
compression plate 3 which lies essentially opposite the subject table 4.

[0054]The ray dimensioning of the electromagnetic radiation E1 or,
respectively, E2 that can be radiated representing from the radiation
sources 5 and 6 is adjustable. The radiation source 5 arranged on the
compression plate 3 advantageously irradiates a surface region of the
subject table 4 with a visible spectral portion that represents the
spatial dimensions of the detector surface of the x-ray detector 14
arranged below the subject table 4. The physician thus can simply
recognize in which various ways the breast O can be positioned on the
subject table 4, and the detector area of the x-ray detector 14 is
thereby not left uncovered.

[0055]The electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 radiated from the first
radiation source and the second radiation source heat a patient-side
region of the subject table 4 or the compression plate 3. The radiation
direction of the electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 radiated by the first
and the second radiation sources 5 and 6 can be adjusted manually or by
means of an actuation device (not shown) controlled by a control device
9.

[0056]This is particularly advantageous when the compression plate 3 and
the subject table 4 are displaced relative to one another. The radiation
direction of the electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 thus can always be
adapted to the relative geometric arrangement of compression plate 3 and
subject table 4. Furthermore, a radiation delimitation device (not shown)
for spatial delimitation of the electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 can be
provided to adjust the radiation allowance if the electromagnetic
radiation E1 or E2. The radiation delimitation device can likewise be
adjusted by means of an actuation device controlled by the control device
9. For this purpose, it is advantageous to register the position and/or
orientation of the compression plate 3 and/or of the subject table
relative to one another or with respect to a reference so an automation
of the adjustment of the radiation delimitation device is enabled.

[0057]The compression plate 3 and the subject table 4 respectively exhibit
coatings 11 and 12 which absorb to a high degree the electromagnetic
radiation radiated by the first and second radiation sources 5 or 6 and
transduce the absorbed radiation into heat. The absorption coefficient
and the thickness of the coating 11 or 12 is adapted to the wavelength
spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 radiated by the first
radiation source 5 and from the second radiation source 6, as well as to
the intensity of the radiation E1 or E2 radiated from the radiation
sources 5 or 6. The coatings 11 and 12 are additionally transparent for
x-rays.

[0058]The compression plate 3 and the subject table 4 each gas a heat
accumulator 10 that stores the heat generated in the coating 11 or 12. A
fast cooling of the coating 11 or 12 after the end of the irradiation of
the coating 11 or 12 with the electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2
emanating from the first and the second radiation source 5 and 6 is
thereby prevented.

[0059]Furthermore, the compression plate 3 and the subject table 4 has a
number of sensors 7 or 8 in the respective warmable surface region of the
compression plate 3 and the subject table 4, the sensors 7 and 8 detect
the temperature of the coating 11 or 12. This is appropriate since the
coated or warmable surface region is that region which at least partially
comes in contact with the subject O to be examined, for example a female
breast in the case of mammogram.

[0060]Excessive temperatures, for example over 40 degrees Celsius, are not
desired. The sensors 7 and 8 allow monitoring of the temperature of the
coating 11 and 12 so that overheating of the coating 11 or 12 is detected
at an early stage. In such a case an optical or acoustic warning
indication, for example, can be generated to be taken note of by the
medical personnel.

[0061]The sensors 7 and 8 can also be used as a component of a control
loop in order to adjust a specific temperature of the coating 11 or 12.
For this purpose, the mammography device 1 has a control and regulation
device 9.

[0062]For example, a temperature value for the coating 11 of the
compression plate 3 and the coating 12 of the subject table 4 is stored
in the control and regulation device 9, which temperature value should be
reached before placement and compression of the female breast O in order
to conduct the examination more comfortably for the patient. The
temperature value can be selected, for example, at 37 degrees Celsius and
can be supplied via an input/output device (not shown) to the control and
regulation device 9.

[0063]After initiation of the heating procedure, the first and the second
radiation sources 5 and 6 are activated, whereupon the first and the
second radiation sources 5 or 6 radiate electromagnetic radiation E1 or
E2 essentially onto the respective coated surface region of the
compression plate 3 and the subject table 4. The sensors 6 and 7 detect
the occurring increase of the temperature of the coating 11 or 12 due to
the absorption of the x-rays. The temperature of the coating 11 or 12 is
advantageously detected at regular time intervals and is supplied without
contact to the control and regulation device 9.

[0064]In the control and regulation device 9 the predetermined temperature
stored in the control and regulation device 9 is compared with the
respective temperature detected by the sensors 7 or 8. Depending on the
level of the detected temperature of the coating 11 of the compression
plate 3 or the coating 12 of the subject table 4, the power of the first
radiation source 5 and/or of the second radiation source 6 (which power
is radiated in the form of electromagnetic radiation) is changed by the
control and regulation device 9 such that the predetermined temperature
of the coating 11 of the compression plate 3 and of the coating 12 of the
subject table 4 is reached.

[0065]To modify the electromagnetic radiation power E1 or E2 radiated onto
the coating 11 of the compression plate 3 and/or onto the coating 12 of
the subject table 4, for example, the electrical power supplied to the
radiation source 5 or 6 for generation of the electromagnetic radiation
E1 or, respectively, E2 can be reduced or increased. For example, the
radiation direction of the electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 can also be
varied so that the coating 11 or 12 is no longer exposed to the full
extent, so a further heating of the coating 11 or 12 can be prevented.

[0066]The coating 11 or 12 can be of a type having properties can be
altered by the application of an external electrical field and/or
external magnetic field to the coating 11 or 12, such that no absorption,
a reduced absorption or an increased absorption of the radiated
electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 by the coating 11 or 12 occurs, for
specific field parameters of the coating 11 or 12. The control of an
external field that acts on the coating 11 or 12 and influences at least
one of its optical properties can likewise be effected by the control and
regulation device 9.

[0067]Filters for filtering a specific wavelength range of the
electromagnetic radiation radiated by the radiation source 5 or 6 also
can be placed upstream of the first and/or second radiation source 5 or 6
in order to reduce the energy striking the coating 11 or 12 in the form
of electromagnetic radiation E1 or E2 radiated by the respective
radiation source 5 or 6. For example, given use of filters to prevent a
further heating of the coating 11 or 12, the infrared wavelength range of
the wavelength spectrum can in particular be significantly filtered.

[0068]Furthermore, before implementation of the mammogram the female
breast can be irradiated with the first and/or second radiation source 5
or 6 in order to relax the breast tissue. The breast O thereby better
adapts upon compression with the compression plate 3 between this and the
subject table 4, which makes the examination more comfortable for the
patient. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment the radiation
direction of the electromagnetic radiation E1 radiated by the radiation
source 5 is altered so that the radiation E1 now strikes the breast O.

[0069]This can ensue, for example, by placing the breast O on the
already-heated surface region of the subject table 4 and thereby is
positioned according to the projection of the detector surface, the
projection being shown by means of the visible wavelength spectrum. Since
the coating 12 of the subject table 4 can no longer be irradiated due to
the breast O placed thereon, the radiation source 5 which is provided for
heating of the subject table is used to heat the breast O. Since the heat
accumulator device 10 of the subject table 4 now emits the heat to the
coating 12, the coating 12 cools slowly.

[0070]Heating of the subject table 4 or of the subject O is always
appropriate when the danger exists that the subject O (in particular a
patient or a body part of a patient) cools. The inventive device can
therefore be used on a patient who is partially unclothed in an operation
or a medical procedure.

[0071]FIG. 2 shows an x-ray device fashioned as a movable C-arm x-ray
device 2. Such a movable C-arm x-ray device 2 can, for example, be used
for implementation of an x-ray examination during a medical intervention.
The C-arm x-ray device 2 has an x-ray radiator 13 and an x-ray detector
14 which are supported on a C-arm 15. The x-ray region X extends between
the x-ray radiator 13 and the x-ray detector 14. The x-ray region X is
any spatial region which is permeated with x-rays emanating from the
x-ray radiator 13 in the direction of the x-ray detector 14.

[0072]A radiation source 16 from which electromagnetic radiation E3 can be
radiated in a directed manner in various directions is additionally
arranged on the C-arm 15. The radiation source 16 can be displaced along
the C-arm 15 and is supported such that it can rotate relative to the
C-arm 15 so that the radiation direction of the electromagnetic radiation
is adjustable.

[0073]In the exemplary embodiment, the C-arm x-ray device 2 is positioned
next to a subject table 4, such that a patient arranged on the subject
table 4 is supported between the x-ray radiator 13 arranged on the C-arm
15 and the x-ray detector 14. The radiation direction in which the
radiation source 16 emits the electromagnetic radiation E3 can be
adjusted manually and is aligned on a body region to be heated of the
patient (not shown) or, respectively, on the subject table 4.

[0074]The body region irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation E3 can
possibly also have artificial body openings, for example body openings
achieved by external action by the physician. The electromagnetic
radiation E3 can in particular be used to heat the irradiated body region
with regard to the acceleration of blood clotting of the patient. The
electromagnetic radiation E3 can also be used for curing of materials,
for example of an implant implanted into the examination subject during
the medical procedure that is mechanically deformable in an uncured
state. In this case the subject to be heated would thus be an artificial
implant introduced into the body of the patient.

[0075]The electromagnetic radiation E3 generated by the radiation source
16 can also be used for heating the subject table 4. Heating of the
placement surface of the subject table 4 ensues at least in sections
before the patient to be operated on or to be examined is positioned on
the subject table 4, so a cooling of the patient is reduced or the
examination is more comfortable for the patient.

[0076]Sensors 8 that detect the temperature of the subject table 4 at
specific points in time are provided for monitoring of the temperature of
the subject table 4. Data which can be transferred to a control and
regulation device (not shown in FIG. 2) are associated with the detected
temperatures. Monitoring of the heating of the subject table 4 or a
regulation of the heating of the subject table can ensue by means of the
detected temperatures.

[0077]The irradiation of the subject table 4 or of the subject by means of
the electromagnetic radiation E3 emanating from the radiation source 16
can ensue in a continuous manner over a longer time span. Alternatively,
the irradiation of the subject table 4 or of the subject can ensue, for
example, in a pulsed manner or be manually activated and deactivated.

[0078]No coating of the subject table 4 and the material forming the
subject table 4 is not particularly absorptive for heating the subject
table 4 in FIG. 2. Rather, electromagnetic radiation E3 that heats a
standard material used for the fashioning of a subject table 4 can be
generated by means of the radiation source 16 arranged on the C-arm 15 of
the C-arm x-ray device 2.

[0079]The radiation source 16 can be provided for heating the subject
table 4 or a subject for a number of medical devices and subject tables.
It is a cost-effective solution since no special materials and coatings
are required, a radiation source 16 can simply be retrofitted for
existing x-ray devices and a replacement of the radiation source 16 (for
example given a defect) can be provided in a simple manner.

[0080]Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled
in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the
patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and
properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.